Guide to the Duke Gardens Foundation records, 1912-2002 and undated

On October 15, 1958 the Duke Gardens Foundation was incorporated with the purpose of "developing thereon agricultural, botanical & horticultural exhibits for the purpose of scientific experiments and of public inspection, instruction, education & enjoyment." Over the period of six years, Doris Duke was personally involved in the physical design of the Indoor Display Gardens, in which various gardens were carefully designed, planned, and developed from the point of view of authenticity. The gardens were opened to the public in 1964, and included 11 unique gardens for visitors to enjoy. Doris Duke continued her involvement with her gardens throughout her life, bringing designers with her to modify them during the summer season when they were closed to tourists. The Duke Gardens Foundation was officially dissolved November 13, 2001 and the gardens closed to the public in 2008. The collection documents the lifecycle of the Duke Gardens Foundation, beginning with the inception of the Duke Gardens Foundation and the design and creation of the various indoor display gardens that comprised Duke Gardens, including the associated purchases of plants and bulbs. The materials follow the daily operations of Duke Gardens, including modifications and general upkeep of the gardens, visitor and tour information, and operations of the Foundation itself. The materials end with the general management of Duke Gardens after Doris Duke's death in 1993 and the final dissolution of the Foundation in 2001. Materials include correspondence, inventories, specifications for various architectural projects at Duke Gardens, invoices and vouchers for repairs and reconstruction to the greenhouses, surveys and reports, financial ledgers, and a multitude of both black and white and color photographs and slides of the different gardens.

The Duke Gardens Foundation records (formerly DGF.13) is part of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Historical Archives which were donated to the Duke University. David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. The collection is arranged into five series: Administrative Records, Financial Records, Photographs/Slides, Legal Records, and Architectural Records. It primarily spans the years 1912 to 2002, although a bulk of the materials date from 1958 to 1999. The collection documents the lifecycle of the Duke Gardens Foundation, beginning with the inception of the Duke Gardens Foundation and the design and creation of the various indoor display gardens that comprised Duke Gardens, including the associated purchases of plants and bulbs. The materials follow the daily operations of Duke Gardens, including modifications and general upkeep of the gardens, visitor and tour information, and operations of the Foundation itself. The materials end with the general management of Duke Gardens after Doris Duke's death in 1993 and the final dissolution of the Foundation in 2001. Materials include correspondence (including thank you letters from visitors), inventories, specifications for various architectural projects at Duke Gardens, invoices and vouchers for repairs and reconstruction to the greenhouses, surveys and reports, financial ledgers, and a multitude of both black and white and color photographs and slides of the different gardens. The arrangement of the collection varies with each series.

Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research, however there are restrictions on certain materials within the collection. See Series level descriptions for more information.

Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection.

All or portions of this collection may be housed off-site in Duke University's Library Service Center. The library may require up to 48 hours to retrieve these materials for research use. Due to the fragility of the architectural records, The library may require up to 48 hours to retrieve these materials for research use.

Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library to use this collection.

Digital use copies in this collection have been migrated to a library server and can only be accessed onsite in the Rubenstein Library Reading Room. To request access please contact Research Services prior to visiting the library.

Use Restrictions

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

Topics in this series are widely varied; however they are all related to the daily operations of the Duke Gardens Foundation and the Indoor Display Gardens, including the original agreement between Doris Duke and the Duke Gardens Foundation outlining the purpose of the Foundation. Also included are board meetings and minutes, progress reports, correspondence, notes, and invoices regarding design, set up, and materials for the different display gardens, correspondence and memoranda regarding purchases and donations of plant materials, clippings and brochures related to the opening and success of the gardens, property appraisals, inventories, and other general administrative materials. Boxes 34-54 contain logs of different activities such as registries for garden tours, in and out logs, and schedules for evening tours. Of particular interest are the thank you letters, many addressed to either Doris Duke or to the Tour Guides who gave the garden tours.

The administrative records also contain architectural records, which were not separated out and included in the Architectural Records series in order to give its associated correspondence context. Additionally, intermixed with the Duke Gardens Foundation Records are Duke Farms records including rental house agreements, repairs to rental houses, and other repairs to buildings on the Duke Farms property.

This series is arranged chronologically and alphabetically thereunder.

Correspondence relating to building and renovation of Garden facilities, including the aviary and French Garden, 1939-2001

Box 1Folder 1

Signage that hung in DGF office. 1950s

Box 1Folder 2

Correspondence relating to improvements and work performed on the greenhouse. Topics include its heating system and ground beds purchased from Lord & Burnham. 1952–1953

Correspondence and lists regarding the gift of a camellia collection by Countess Bismarck, of Bayville, Long Island, to Duke Gardens, 1958-1959

Box 1Folder 15

Correspondence regarding promotional materials for Duke Gardens and examples from other public gardens, 1958-1959

Box 1Folder 16

Letter and notes related to construction at Duke Gardens, 1958-1959

Box 1Folder 17

Correspondence - Umberto Innocenti, 1958-1960

Box 1Folder 18

Minutes and materials of the Horticultural Society of New York related to Duke Gardens Foundation, 1958-1960

Box 1Folder 19

Agreement between Doris Duke and Duke Gardens Foundation, Inc. for use of property on estate (1958) and Indenture between Doris Duke and Duke Gardens Foundation, Inc. assigning Foundation the ownership of land for $1.00 (1961). 1958, 1961

Correspondence and memoranda relating to daily administrative activities at Duke Gardens. Topics include solicitations to produce TV commercials at Duke Gardens and permissions to take photos of the gardens. 1972–1981

Box 16Folder 5

Vehicle #2 - 1966 Chevrolet utility truck, 1972; 1985

Box 16Folder 6

Appraisals, black and white and color photographs, correspondence, receipts, and other materials related to furniture and art donations, 1972-2002

Box 16Folder 7

Agreements (copies) made between Duke Gardens Foundation, Inc. and Burnham Corp. for the renovation of the Semi-Tropical, Colonial American, Tropical, Edwardian, and Italian Gardens. 1973

Catalog, "Furniture and Works of Art in The Elms Residence of the late Miss Julia A. Berwind", under the management of Parke-Bernet Galleries. Two statues on page 145 were purchased for Duke Gardens, 1962

A majority of the materials in this series are paid invoices and related correspondence for the numerous contractors and businesses providing services to the Duke Gardens Foundation. Invoices include purchases for cement, insecticides, plants, and manhole covers; services for woodworking, building renovations, electrical services, and scaffolding and equipment, and purchases for employment related services including job ads and temporary employment. Also included are transactions between Duke Gardens Foundation and Duke Farms for the use of equipment and workers. To a lesser degree, the series contains general ledgers and journals, which include information such as donations income, administrative and grounds expenses, and investments.

For ease of use, the series is arranged by paid invoices and related correspondence, general ledgers and cashbooks and general financial. In each category, the materials are arranged chronologically and alphabetically thereunder.

Invoices paid, A-Z, 1958

Box 55Folder 1

Invoices paid - Greenhouse, 1958-1959

Box 55Folder 2

Invoices paid by Duke Farms for new greenhouse for orchid range, 1958 Nov-1959 May

The over 2,300 miscellaneous color slides include images of the gardens (from different years), construction of Duke Gardens, individual plants, aerial views of gardens, views to outside areas such as entrances, and views of the grounds. These slides include duplicates that were made for Miss Duke. Of particular interest are the Pana-vue travel slides of Duke Gardens, commercially sold as souvenirs.

The photographs are both in color and black and white, and in general document repairs and reconstruction to the different display gardens and grounds renovations.

The images are loosely in chronological order and then alphabetically thereunder.

The largest part of this series is the litigation between Duke Gardens Foundation and Universal Restoration Inc., a firm that was hired by the Duke Gardens Foundation to restore a few of the indoor display gardens. Materials include depositions from various witnesses including Doris Duke, exhibit materials, legal correspondence, construction and repair records, and architectural drawings. Other topics in this series include various insurance letters/certificates for the Duke Gardens Foundation, contracts for restoration and repairs at Duke Gardens, and general legal correspondence from various administrators at Duke Gardens Foundation.

The records are in arranged in chronological order and alphabetically thereunder.

Conditions Governing Access note

RESTRICTED: Access to several folders in boxes 115, 117, and 119 are restricted and require prior written approval from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation to view.

The records document the proposed design, alterations and renovations of a variety of gardens and structures at Duke Gardens from numerous architects and engineering firms. Many of the records are from Lord & Burnham, the firm that designed and constructed the original greenhouse at Duke Farms and continued working with the Duke Gardens Foundation until the 1970s. Includes diazo prints, ink on tracing paper, and photostat copies.

Digital use copies exist for some of the architectural records and have been identified below. Digital use copies can only be accessed onsite in the Rubenstein Library Reading Room. To request access please contact Research Services prior to visiting the library.